Great Expressions Donates $40,000 to Nonprofits through Annual MLK Day Fundraiser

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – February 24, 2012 – Great Expressions Dental Centers raised $40,000 for local charities in Detroit, Atlanta and Miami through its annual Martin Luther King Day campaign.

The monies raised were through the dental organization’s revenue generated via patient services on MLK Day, January 16, 2012.

Among the organizations in Michigan receiving a portion of the funds include:

• Focus Hope (www.focushope.edu) — A nationally renowned civil and human rights organization diligently working to bridge the racial divide in southeast Michigan through food and career training programs, and community development and community arts programs.
• Neighborhood Service Organization, Michigan (www.nso-mi.org) — A non-profit human service agency that serves the communities most vulnerable neighbors. The donation will go toward one apartment sponsorship inside the NSO Bell Building, which is being renovated to offer 155 formerly homeless individuals a place to call home.
• Uplift Our Youth Foundation (http://uoyf.org) — An educational and philanthropic foundation whose purpose is to support projects, programs and activities that enhance opportunities for young people. Each year the Uplift Our Youth Foundation provides funding to projects and programs based in Clinton, Ingham, and Eaton Counties.

In Atlanta, a portion of the funds will benefit The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (www.thekingcenter.org), which is dedicated to educating the world on the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspiring new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today.

In the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas, the monetary donation will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida (http://rmhcsouthflorida.org), an organization thatcreates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children in South Florida. Its cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House^®, provides a “home away from home” for families with ill children receiving treatment at nearby pediatric medical facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

“Like Dr. King, we believe it is important we do what we can to defend the rights of individuals and help them overcome adversity,” said Great Expressions CEO Richard Beckman. “What better way than to give back to the community and commemorate and support Dr. King’s contributions and vision to American society than by continuing to donate a portion of our revenue we earned from that day through this annual program.”

About Great Expressions

For more than 35 years, Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) has been exceeding patients’ expectations with 150 dental centers in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia. One of the largest privately owned dental practice management companies in the United States, GEDC prides itself in being able to maintain the dedication and core values found in small, hometown dental practices. For more information, go to www.greatexpressions.com.

About OMERS Private Equity

Operating under the OMERS Worldwide brand, OMERS Private Equity manages the private equity activities of OMERS and has over $6.3 billion of investments under management. The group’s investment strategy includes the active ownership of businesses in North America and Europe. OMERS Private Equity is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in New York and London. For further information visit: www.omerspe.com.

About OMERS

OMERS is one of Canada’s largest pension funds with over $55.1 billion in net assets. It provides first-class pension administration and innovative products and services to almost 420,000 members. Approximately one in every 20 employees working in the province of Ontario is an OMERS member. Through the OMERS Worldwide brand, our team of investment professionals uses a direct drive, active management investment strategy to invest in public and private market assets, including publicly-traded equities, fixed-income, infrastructure, private equity and real estate. For more information, please visit www.omers.com, or www.omersworldwide.com.

Contact:
Natalie Stavale
Jennifer Cherry
Marx Layne & Company
248-855-6777 – Office
248-417-8510 – Cell